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Online payments go face-to-face

Shoppers will soon be able to pay in-store via their PayPal account using a new app that takes a human approach to facial recognition technology.

Consumers who download the PayPal app to their smartphone will be able to use their account for purchases in stores which use the eBay-owned PayPal's "Here" payments software and hardware.

The card and cash-free technology requires buyers to upload their photo to their account so that sellers can verify their identity and confirm that payment has been made via the PayPal "digital wallet".

Shoppers "check-in" at the store via the app, then order and pay using their PayPal account.

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PayPal Australia managing director Jeff Clementz said the technology would "transform the engagement" between retailers and consumers.

"You show up, make your order .. but instead of pulling out credit cards or cash they push your picture and the payment's complete - they receive an SMS and an email right away," Mr Clementz said at a launch event in Sydney.

"It's all done facially - (the vendor) can recognise me, he knows who I am and charges me via my picture."

Mr Clementz said the technology allowed store operators to develop more direct relationships because it provided them with the name and photo of customers through the point-of-sale terminal.

In a press release, PayPal, which is owned by eBay Inc., said advanced versions of the technology will allow retailers to see more detailed customer information, such as favourite and recent transactions.

Sydney-based bakery Sonoma is one of the retailers rolling out the new technology.